About The Quarterpounds
A flower bloomed from ancient roots, The Quarterpounds is a totally new line-up originated from 15 years of close collaboration between Mauro Angeletta (Guitar and Voice) and Simone Invidia (Bass); starting from 60s/70s rock / hard rock influence, Mauro and Simone developed a deep interest in blues music and, more recently, in jazz music too. The future Quarterpounds met a promising young drummer who shared their passion for music in general and blues in particular ... his name was Fabio Chirizzi, and the power trio that resulted from this was The Blues Thrills. After two years to the sound of Rock 'n' Roll and by virtue of a harmony and musical ideas and aspirations increasingly overwhelming, the trio began to consider the idea of starting proposing their own music ... but something was missing. Mauro moved to Rome and the dream seemed to vanish but an entirely accidental encounter caused him to bump into Stefano Mormolli, singer and multi-instrumentalist from Anagni. A long chat and the instant harmony that derived between them broght the two to found first The Blackbirds (a Beatles cover band, where Stefano sang and played keyboards and guitar), then an acoustic duo aimed to reinterpret folk songs by great songwriters such as Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens and Neil Young. That’s where Mauro got absolutely bewitched by a fantastic instrument which turned out to be the favorite of the many Stefano mastered: the accordion. The sounds generated by acoustic guitar and accordion intertwined so naturally that urged them to experiment. Another chance encounter brought Stefano and Mauro to know Vincenzo Corsi, a young bass player with classic background and a great interest and love in Afro-American music. The duo became a trio and repertoire extended adding the rhythm of blues and taste for jazz improvisation to the sweet melodies of the folk songs. Blues means electric guitar and here came the idea to experiment trying to unite an instrument whose origins, repertoire and sound are mostly rooted in popular tradition, the accordion, with the raucous and distorted sounds of blues guitar. The soil was ripe, the idea about to blossom. The project was clear, the accordion as part of a rock band with the rhythm of the blues in the veins and the lesson of the Beatles and the Beach Boys clear in mind. The intuition of a new musical idea swiftly went from Mauro to his mates Simone and Fabio who didn’t need being told twice and in the summer of 2014 headed to Anagni bringing along their instruments and their will to put themselves on the line. The sessions were so intense and the group was so charmed that distance was no longer a problem. Musical ideas were clear, only a name was missing… something depicting the musicians’ personality and well representing the sound they were questing. The Quarterpounds. The term, invented, allude to an old English coin no longer in use: the 25 cent coin, known as the Farthing. The appealing sound and that irreverent ungrammaticality convinced the band. A flower bloomed from ancient roots and casts his gaze into the future: The Quarterpounds.